Multiple sensing element touch sensor

• US 20070063876A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Wong, Alex
• Application Number:
  US11/210,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

Disclosed are touch sensors that include a plurality of separated conductive sensing elements, controller electronics configured to determine touch position based on signals received from the conductive sensing elements in response to a touch, and a plurality of input leads connecting the conductive sensing elements to the controller electronics, each sensing element having multiple connections to one of the plurality of input leads to form multiple resistance pathways from each sensing element to the controller electronics.

Claims

1. A touch sensor system comprising a touch sensor that comprises:

a plurality of separated conductive sensing elements, each spanning a sensing region from a first end to a second end;

controller electronics configured to determine touch position based on signals received from the conductive sensing elements; and

a plurality of input leads connecting the conductive sensing elements to the controller electronics, wherein the first end and second end of each sensing element is connected to the same input lead.

2. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separated conductive sensing elements comprises a series of parallel conductive bars.

3. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separated conductive sensing elements comprises a first series of parallel conductive bars and a second series of parallel conductive bars oriented orthogonally to, and electrically insulated from, the first series.

4. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of separated conductive sensing elements comprises a linearly connected series of diamond shapes.

5. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive touch sensor.

6. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a resistive touch sensor.

7. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor senses touch position in at least one direction.

8. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor senses touch position in two directions.

9. The touch sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a display positioned to be viewable through the touch sensor.

10. A method for reducing time-dependent signal variations in response to a touch on a touch sensor having a plurality of separated conductive sensing elements, each spanning a sensing region from a first end to a second end, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of lead lines, each lead line connected to one of a plurality of controller inputs;

for each of the plurality of sensing elements, connecting the first end and the second end to the same one of the plurality of lead lines; and

providing controller electronics coupled to the controller inputs and configured to determine touch position based on signals generated when the touch is sensed by the conductive sensing elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the time-dependent signal variations are reactive time delays.

12. A touch sensor comprising:

a plurality of separated conductive sensing elements;

controller electronics configured to determine touch position based on signals received from the conductive sensing elements in response to a touch; and

a plurality of input leads connecting the conductive sensing elements to the controller electronics, each sensing element having multiple connections to one of the plurality of input leads to form multiple resistance pathways from each sensing element to the controller electronics.